At a glance:
This cot is ideal for co-sleepers. Co-sleeping can be safe and secure, with baby asleep adjacent to the bed, in reaching distance to you in the night. A stand-out feature is that the crib can be tilted, which can help babies with reflux sleep comfortably. You won’t be able to use this crib for daytime naps however, unless you want to re-attach it to your bed each night.
How did this product make your life easier?
Sophie: It makes the night feeds so much easier as they are already right next to you, so if you're breastfeeding as I did, you can just safely do the co-sleep position without having to get out of bed. It also makes the checks much easier. As we all know, mums always check if their baby is okay and in the early days still breathing! Just by safely being able to have your baby next to you all night just puts your mind at rest while knowing that they are safe in their own space.
Sarah: I absolutely love this crib and wish I had had it sooner. We began with a Moses basket as we only have a small bedroom, this was positioned at the bottom of our bed, my son quickly got big for the basket and started thrashing around, hitting the sides and rocking his Moses basket. We have now put him in the Chicco next to me, but have kept all the sides up and placed it in the same place as his basket. He sleeps all through the night and looks so comfortable and secure.
Vickie: Wow this product is amazing. I love everything about it. It was so easy to put together, I didn’t need anyone to help me which was great as being alone most of the time I don’t have another pair of hands to help me. My little boy looks so peaceful and cosy in next2me. He lays there with his arms in the air, he looks so secure.
Would you recommend this to other mums?
Lauren: The crib is relatively cheap compared to other models on the market which is a definite advantage. Since it is larger than a traditional Moses basket it has greater longevity which prevents the need for replacing before the baby is ready to sleep in their own room. Other positive features are that its easily collapsible so it could be used as a travel cot comes with a storage bag and is height adjustable. I also liked the fact that one end could be raised higher than the other which was an advantage for our baby who suffers from reflux. I did find that the mattress was a little ‘crinkly’ and when our very active baby moved in her sleep and kicked down her legs it seemed to wake her up, perhaps because of the waterproof material. I also found that it didn’t feel particularly sturdy and wobbled a little, particularly when at the taller heights. We tried the crib as a stand-alone cot, however, we found that the collapsible side had a lower part which baby could tug on.
Sumeet: I would highly recommend this product to a friend and would say it is an essential product for the first 6 months of a baby's life. It is easy to assemble and to transport as not as heavy. The design is nice and the colours available are quite neutral. It is easy to use and the baby had no issues sleeping in it. It made life so much easier and gave me peace of mind.
Kate: Yes! It’s now my top “essential” item to recommend to friends. Anything that can improve sleep in those early months is worth its weight in gold in my opinion. And being able to take it with me when we have been away had helped to reduce our stress about sleep as we were easily able to replicate the usual home environment. I would recommend to friends to consider an alternative mattress as it really is firm. Quite big as all the co-sleeper cots are, but neutral colours and sleek design stopping it from being an eyesore!
Would you choose this product to win?
Lauren: Having tested the product, I don’t think I would purchase it or recommend to other mums as a crib to use on a regular basis. It felt more like a travel option that might be used occasionally and packed away. I like the concept of a next to me crib, liked the colours and appreciate the value for money but I feel that other brands may offer something more sturdy, even if the price was a little higher.
Jemma: I didn’t choose this one initially as I felt it looked a bit like a travel cot rather than a nice piece of furniture but having tested it, I prefer it to the more chic ‘designed’ products in this area. The little one is really comfy in it and we love the fact that we can take it with us when we go away.
Sarah: I really do think this product should win, it stands out to me as being a good size to have in your bedroom. If you were to want to co-sleep this would allow you to have baby close to you, whilst being safe. We have used the product with all four sides up, so not next to me, but I can see my son from my bed and see through the mesh side. I also like how this is breathable for him, as he has taken to rolling in his side and I know he can breathe safely. The product is very secure and I love how it has a lock on the leg so it doesn’t move at all, as my son does kick his legs around in his sleep.
What changes would you make to this product?
Kate: A softer mattress. I know it needs to be firm in order to be safe etc but this is too firm in my opinion. I had a tough time the first few nights persuading my baby and I actually ended up using a sleepyhead inside it purely for a softer surface. This wasn't ideal as it wasn't sold to go with your cot but it made a massive difference immediately to my little girl's sleep.
Sophie: The only criticism I have but it doesn't make that much of a difference to the use, is for the sides to be a bit more structured as they are quite flimsy. I understand why the zip side is not structured as it makes it easier to zip up and down but I think the other 3 sides would benefit to be a bit more that just material.
Lauren: As above, I think I would prefer a crib which was a softer material and less obviously durable and water-resistant. It only took my baby to move her arms or legs for her to hit the sides or the mattress causing a rustling sound and waking her up. We ended up putting a blanket under the sheet to try and soften this and had to ensure she was placed right in the centre to minimise what she could reach. In reflection, perhaps the ridge that goes next to the bed should be on the outside when the side is raised or attachable to it so that it could fit flush against it and prevent little hands from pulling on it.